Haaland Injury leaves Guardiola unsure as Semenyo steps in at Elland Road
Pep Guardiola said he does not know when Erling Haaland will return after the striker missed Manchester City's win at Leeds with a haaland injury picked up in training. The absence forced Guardiola to reshuffle his forward line as City prepare for four matches across three competitions over the next fortnight.
Haaland Injury leaves City short at Elland Road
Haaland was a surprise absentee at Elland Road, in the city of his birth, after picking up what Guardiola described as a "little injury" in training on Thursday. Guardiola said, "Two days ago in training he had some problems and a little injury. " After the match he added, "I don't know" when Haaland will be back and told reporters, "I wish he'd come back!"
Semenyo starts and scores the decisive goal
Antoine Semenyo replaced Haaland as the central striker in the starting XI and scored the winning goal just before the break. Manchester City fielded Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Semenyo as their front three, with Phil Foden, Savino and Jeremy Doku named among the attacking substitutes.
Fixture congestion and Guardiola's complaint over kick-off time
Guardiola highlighted the packed schedule facing his squad: four matches in three different competitions across the next fortnight. He pointed to the short turnaround, saying, "We have three days until Nottingham Forest, " and criticised the FA Cup kick-off time at Newcastle being set for 8 p. m., adding sarcastically that playing at 8 p. m. instead of 3 p. m. gives the team "less recover to play Real Madrid. "
Four matches that shape the fortnight
City will host Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League game on Wednesday night, then travel to Newcastle for their FA Cup tie the following Saturday. The team then has the first leg of the Champions League last 16 against Real Madrid on March 11, followed by an away trip to West Ham three days later.
Standings, priorities and the immediate consequences
The win at Leeds moved City to two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Guardiola said the club's "main, main priority" remains securing another season of Champions League football, adding, "One game at a time. Recover now and start the real season when there are many, many games and everyone's tired. " Mikel Arteta's Gunners can extend their lead back to five points if they beat Chelsea on Sunday at 4: 30 p. m. ET.
Haaland has 22 goals in 27 appearances for City this season, a tally the club will be without while he recovers. With a busy run of fixtures looming and uncertainty over his return, City will monitor the striker in training and matchday squads ahead of their next confirmed fixture at home to Nottingham Forest.
